Work, Power, and Simple

Machines

What is Work?

Work is done when a force is

exerted on an object and causes it
to move in the same direction the
force was exerted.

Force a push or pull

The amount of work you do is

not affected by how fast or
slow you do the work. If you
carry a backpack up a flight
of stairs, you are still carrying
the same amount of weight
over the same amount of
distance. Time is not a
factor in work.

Calculate Work

Work (W) = Force(F) x Distance(D)

W=FxD

Force is measured in Newtons (N)

Distance is measured in meters (m)
So, Work is measured in N*m or Joules
(J)

What is a Joule?

A joule is the amount of work you

do when you exert a force of 1
Newton to move an object a
distance of 1 meter.

If a 50N force was exerted lifting

a plant and carrying it a distance
of 0.5m, how much work was
done?
W

=?
W = F x D
F = 50N
D = 0.5m

W
W

=FxD

= (50N) (0.5m)
W = 25 N*m
OR
25 Joules (J)

What is the SI unit for

work?
The

Joule (J)

What is Power?
Power

is the RATE at which

work is done.
Rate = Time

Calculating Power
Power(P)
P

= Work(W) / time(t)

= W/t
P = Force x Distance / time
Work is measured in Joules (J)
Time is measured in seconds (s)
Power is measure in J/s
J/s = Watts

A tow truck exerts a force

of 11,000N to pull a car
out of a ditch. It moves
the car a distance of 5 m
in 25 seconds. What is
the power of the tow
truck?
P = ?

P=FxD/t
F = 11,000 N
D=5m
t = 25 s

OR

P = W/t

P = 11,000 N x 5 m / 25 s
P = 55,000Nxm(J) / 25 s
P = 2,200 J/s OR watts

watt is a relatively small

unit of power.
One kilowatt (kW) = 1,000
watts (W)
One horsepower = 746
watts

How Machines Do Work?

What is a Machine?
A machine allows you to do work
easier or more effective.
HOW?

3 ways in which a machine

can make work easier.
1.

2.
3.

A machine may change the

amount of force you exert. By
taking some of the force away
from you.
The distance over which you exert
your force.
Or their direction in which you
exert your force.

Remember that in
order for work to be
done a force must be
applied.
You have an input force and
an output force

Input force/Output force

The force you exert on the machine

input force.
The machine in turn applies the force to
the object Output force
The distance the machine moves after
the input force is applied - input
distance
Output distance the machine exerts
a force over another distance, distance
object moves

Changing force

Increases Distance

Changes direction

Mechanical
Advantage
The

number of times a
machine increases a
force exerted on it.

Mechanical advantage = output force/

input force

MA

= F o / Fi

Calculating Mechanical
Advantage

What is the MA if the input force of 10N is

exerted on a hand-held can opener, and
the opener exerts an output force of 30N?

MA

=?
MA = output force / input force
Output force = 30N
Input force = 10N

MA

= 30N / 10N
MA = 3
The can opener triples
your input force.

Are machines
actually efficient?
Efficiency

compares the
output work to the input
work. Efficiency is
expressed as a percent.
The higher the percent the
more efficient the machine.

Calculating Efficiency
Efficiency

Output Work / Input Work x

100%

Eff
We

= Wo / Wi Multiplied by 100%

multiply because we end up

with a decimal, so we move out
decimal two places to the right.

Example efficiency
You do 250,000 J of work to cut a lawn
with a hand mower. If the work done
by the mower is 200,000 J, what is the
efficiency of the lawn mower?
Efficiency = ?
Eff = output work / input work x 100%
Work input = 250,000 J
Work output = 200,000 J

Eff = 200,000J / 250,000J x

100%

.8 x 100%
eff = 80%

What would your ideal

efficiency of a machine
be?
100% efficient

Simple Machines
Inclined

Wedge

plane
Screw
lever

Pulley
Wheel

axle

and

What is a simple machine?

Remember a machine makes work

easier by changing the force, the
direction, or the distance the force
is applies.

1. Inclined Plane
A flat, sloped surface
Allows you to exert your input
force over a longer distance.
As a result the input force needed
is less than the output force
Ideal MA = Length of incline / height of

incline

2. Wedge
A device that is thick at one end
and tapers to a thin edge at the
other end.
Axe
Knife
Door stop

3. Screw
An inclined plane wrapped around
a cylinder.
The MA of a screw is the length
around the threads divided by the
length of the screw.

4. Levers
A rigid bar that is free to pivot, or
rotate on a fixed point.
MA = distance from fulcrum to input

force
distance from fulcrum to
output force

Types of Levers
1st

class lever
2nd class lever
3rd class lever

1st class lever

2nd class lever

3rd class lever

Wheel and Axle

Made

of two circular or
cylindrical objects fastened
together that rotate about a
common axis
Screw driver

6. Pulleys
Made

of a grooved wheel
with a rope or cable
wrapped around it.

Types of Pulleys
Fixed

pulley
Movable pulley
Block and tackle

Fixed pulley

Movable pulley

Block and Tackle


1.Aforkisanexampleof a:
pulleywedgewheelandaxle
2.Abicycleisanexampleofa:
wheelandaxlewedgelever
3.Abathtubisanexampleofa/an:
pulleyscrewinclinedplane
4.Aswivelchairisanexampleofa:
leverscrewwedge
5.Ateetertotterontheplaygroundisa:
leverinclinedplanepulley
6.Youwoulduseapulleyto:
cutfoodholdpiecesofwoodtogether
helpopenandclosevenetianblinds

Simple Machines and the

Human Body
Elbow
Neck
Ankle
Wedges/mouth

Compound Machines

A machine that utilizes two or

more simple machines.

Homework
You

are to make a foldable

List all 6 simple machines
For each machine show a
picture and give its definition
You will need 4 halves sheets
of paper